The Federation of Uganda Medical Interns (FUMI) has condemned the harassment of an intern doctor at Mulago National Referral Hospital and demanded urgent government action to protect healthcare workers and address delayed allowances.
In a press statement issued Thursday, FUMI President Dr Jacob Mwadha expressed “deepest sorrow” over a widely circulated social media video showing an intern doctor and other health workers being harassed by a grieving attendant at the national referral hospital.
“The loss of a loved one is a traumatic experience, and it is never acceptable to take out one’s frustration and anger on healthcare workers who are dedicated to saving lives,” Dr Mwadha said.
He described the incident as disrespectful and violent, noting that medical interns, whom he called “the backbone of our healthcare system,” deserve protection and respect.
“For long, it has been politicians with this sense of abnormal entitlement; now the public is picking up the same. Before being health workers, we are human beings who have rights that must be respected,” he said.
Dr Mwadha warned that neglect of duty, if it occurs, is a criminal offence with established legal procedures and should not be handled through mob action or public shaming. He also cautioned against recording patients and healthcare workers without consent, describing the practice as “unethical and criminal under Ugandan laws.”
“Patients and healthcare workers have full rights to press criminal charges against any individual who indulges in such acts,” he said, urging the public to desist.
Beyond the Mulago incident, FUMI raised concern over delayed payment of intern doctors’ allowances. According to Dr Mwadha, many interns have not received their allowances since August last year under what he termed “illegal and disheartening circumstances,” while those currently on payroll had not received their January allowances as of February 12.
“This is not only unacceptable but also inhumane. These young medical workers have dedicated their lives to serving our nation, often under very challenging circumstances, and it is our duty to ensure that they are compensated fairly and on time,” he said, adding, “There is no doctor who swore to be a slave to anyone.”
FUMI also questioned government recruitment plans in the health sector. While government statements have indicated plans to recruit up to 168,000 medical workers, Dr Mwadha said the immediate plan is to recruit 2,000 health workers and deploy medical doctors to Health Centre III facilities.
He said full implementation of such recruitment plans would ease the burden on the healthcare system and improve equitable service delivery.
The statement follows public criticism of Mulago National Referral Hospital by singer Vincent Kibalama, also known as Green Daddy, who accused the facility of negligence following the death of his daughter on Monday morning.
In videos circulating on social media, the visibly distressed artist is seen expressing frustration and alleging that hospital staff failed to provide adequate care.
“I performed for this government throughout their campaign because I wanted money, and they paid me. But now we are facing the reality. Things are not going well at Mulago,” the singer said.
FUMI called on government to employ interns and other qualified young professionals to fill existing gaps in health facilities, take concrete steps to protect healthcare workers from harassment, and ensure justice for the intern doctor involved in the Mulago incident.
“We demand justice for the intern doctor who was harassed and call on the government to take immediate action to address the concerns of our healthcare workers,” Dr Mwadha said.